ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



PHILADELPHIA, PA., OCTOBER, 1915. 



On Buying and Selling Insects. 



There has lately been injected into the study of entomology 

 a wave of commercialism that has done harm in a number of 

 ways. The idea has been spread broadcast through the coun- 

 try that it is an easy matter to collect insects and sell them, 

 particularly butterflies and moths. The statement is made 

 that there are millionaire collectors who are just thirsting for 

 material and that many institutions buy specimens of in- 

 sects. The net result of this is keen disappointment to 

 many persons and annoyance and bother to others. The 

 aspirant for wealth by the sale of insects collects some 

 Pierls rapae, Colias philodice, Vanessa antiopa and raises a 

 few cecropias from the cocoon and then writes to some ento- 

 mologist or institution asking how and where he can find a 

 market for such things. Generally the aspirant for wealth 

 wishes a list of those who buy, and those who buy have been 

 collecting all their lives and of course will buy desiderata but 

 can't be charmed by a luna moth or a cabbage butterfly. It is 

 quite true that a good collector in a favored locality, can sell 

 material properly caught, but it is equally true that one can't 

 sell insects to good collectors when the insects are the same spe- 

 cies that the collector can readily get himself. There are certain 

 phases of the business advocated and advertised that are not 

 only misleading but absolutely dishonest. Many persons are 

 wasting their money for collecting apparatus, literature, post- 

 age, etc., who will never be able to derive a cent of profit. 



The writer can't tell people where to sell common insects, 

 and wishes some way of avoiding many letters from persons 

 asking for information in regard to selling their wares. Per- 

 sonal visits and 'phone calls are also an annoyance. The 

 NEWS will esteem it a favor if subscribers, willing to buy 

 specimens, will send in their names and addresses so that com- 

 mercial beginners may have an avenue by which they can ac- 

 quire money and even wealth. H. S. 



363 



